Friday, December 6, 2013

Flourless Chocolate Cake

So far this is the best flour-less chocolate cake I have found! It tastes amazing and is super moist and rich (I added more cocoa). I give it a 9 out of 10 (only because maybe there is still something better out there that I haven't found) 

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 6 1-ounce squares coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • For Glaze:
  • 2 1-ounce squares coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate squares
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon milk OR light coconut milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Agave syrup OR honey
  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F

Spray a 7-inch tart pan with removable bottom with cooking spray. If you don't have a tart pan, use a 6 to 7-inch springform pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and spray the paper.

  1. Melt 6 ounces of chopped chocolate and butter in a heavy saucepan over medium low heat. Stir until chocolate and butter are melted and smooth.
  2. Add sugar and salt and reduce heat to low. Cook while stirring for about one minute, until sugar starts to dissolve.
  3. Remove pan from heat. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. The mixture will look smooth and glossy.
  4. Use a mesh hand sieve to sift cocoa into mixture. This prevents lumps. Whisk until the cake batter is smooth.
  5. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes. The center of the cake should be just firm to the touch, but be careful to not overbake the cake or it will be dry.
  6. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Invert the cake on a plate.
  7. To prepare the glaze, melt 2 ounces of chopped chocolate and 1 1/2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in the same saucepan you used to make the cake. When melted and smooth, remove the pan from heat. Add milk and Agave syrup OR honey and vanilla and stir until smooth and glossy. Let the glaze cool for about 3 minutes before pouring it on the cake.
  8. Pour all of the glaze in the middle of the cake. Use a silicone or rubber spatula to spread the glaze evenly over the cake, allowing the glaze to evenly run down the sides of the cake.

    Serves 6


Pretty Pushers Hospital Gown Review




Have any of you ladies ever wanted to wear something maybe a tad bit cuter than a hospital gown during birth? Something new that not every woman ever has labored in? Well, you can! Thanks to Pretty Pushers!


Pretty Pushers is a company that provides women with adorable hospital gowns for labor and delivery. Every gown provides adequate access for IV's, epidurals, and fetal monitors. This company was created by a woman with a mission to provide women with dignity, femininity, modesty, and personal comfort during birth. After all, those icky hospital gowns have a HUGE opening in the back that does not allow much discreetness.



Pretty Pushers has been featured in American Baby magazine, Pregnancy magazine, & New York magazine as well as on Fox News, NBC, and TV shows.


Today, I had the chance to review the Original Labor & Delivery Gown by Pretty Pushers. It is made up of 100% cotton and ties at the neck like a halter top, which allows easy access to breastfeed. The gowns come in a variety of colors and prints but I chose black so that less staining would show. I am planning on wearing this dress during my labor & delivery and possibly keeping it for future births! However, this gown can be disposable as well.


Notice the low-back for easy epidural access-though I will not be getting an epidural!
 KNOCK ON WOOD!


The front opens up to the belly by using two separate ties for fetal monitoring!


I was surprised at how light weight this gown was! It was very breathable and flowy. I felt feminine for sure!


There was a tie that came with the dress (I believe it might have been to tie the dress together), but I used it as a headband! Ha ha.


I cannot wait to wear this for my delivery! I do not see why any women wouldn't. They also offer a plus size option as well which is great and caters to everyone.


To grab your own adorable hospital gown, click here.

Disclaimer: I was given a Pretty Pushers gown to test, at no cost. All opinions are my own.





Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Joiful Maternity Review


Today, I am reviewing a piece from the Joiful Maternity line which includes tops, bottoms, dresses, and an AWESOME sweatsuit. Their message is that pregnancy no longer means you have to sacrifice your style-which is oh so true!

 This online boutique also gives friendly maternity fashion tips when you need it!

 Joiful Maternity has been featured in Pregnancy & Newborn magazine, a widely popular source for expecting ladies!


I was given the opportunity to review the Everyday Jacket and the Everyday Pant from the Joiful Maternity line. Upon receiving, I have to say that I loved the lightweight Nylon & Spandex material that makes the sweatsuit! It is definitely something that  I can run, lift weights, or go shopping in. However, I cannot wait to wear this suit home upon giving birth to my son so I have dubbed it my "going home from the hospital" sweatsuit! Though, I may wear it to the hospital as it makes my bump look so cute!


The pant features adorable pockets  with buttons on each side; I thought it made my behind look very cute! 


The sweatsuit fit well on my figure and embraced my curves and it was not baggy in all the wrong places like most sweatsuits you see. Don't you just love the shiny material?


I decided to test the comfort of the suit by running a few miles around the track. I had noticed right away that it was hard to sweat in this suit which means the fabric is breathable and doing its job! I was not left with that drenched feeling or that my clothes were yucky after working out. 


It is so hard to find a good sweatsuit these days and I am so happy that I came across this one at Joiful Maternity! It really made me feel sexy, even covered up!


To learn more about Joiful Maternity or to view their collection, visit:


Disclaimer: I was given a Joiful Maternity sweatsuit to test, at no cost. All opinions are my own.



Preparing For Natural Labor


With a mere less than 9 weeks to go until the birth of my son, my husband and I will be attending our 4th and final birthing class tonight in preparation for a natural birth and delivery.
 My hospital bag is halfway packed with just a few more things to go. 
Almost all of my cloth diapers have been ordered.
Nursery is finished.

WOW!
The time is almost here.

I am hoping and praying to labor mostly at home since the hospital is only 5 minutes away. I plan to use my birthing ball and meditation to relax and push through the pain. I also plan on using breathing techniques and massage as well. My husband is such a great partner and has been so helpful during our birthing classes!

After going to pain management classes and learning about epidurals and IV pain meds, I simply decided that it was not for me-or my baby. Especially after I learned that they give a very powerful opiate, Fentanyl, through IV, which does cross the placenta to baby-horrifying to say the least. I want to be completely in tune with my body and assisting with the pushing which is why I am also saying no to an epidural. To each their own! I know that a woman's body was created to produce and give birth to a baby and I trust that it knows what it is doing. I love the go with the flow approach because I do realize that anything can happen and its all on BABY'S terms! Ha.

My plan for the last 2 months is to keep eating clean and to keep working out until I go into labor. There are plenty of good positions and exercises to do to help prepare your body for labor and delivery. I have not hit the nesting stage yet, but I am looking forward to it as my house desperately needs a good cleaning! I will be taking a breastfeeding class tomorrow and I am so excited! Everything is so new to me and sometimes I have my anxieties about becoming a new mom, but with such a great partner as I have, I can't be too worried. I also have my doctor's check up tomorrow as well to see how little man is doing. I will go over my birth plan with my doctor and confirm that Grey is in fact head down and in a good position. I would like to try to avoid him being breech which would result in a C-Section; something I DON'T want.

Stay tuned

:)




Tuesday, December 3, 2013

What Do You Think?


This new mom has caused a bit of controversy by posting this selfie of her 4 days postpartum. What do you think?


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